Paralakhemundi: For last three months, rain deficiency has pushed farmers in Odisha’s Gajapati district into distress and a drought-like situation has arisen in the district, a source said Wednesday.
Gajapati district, like other places in Odisha, usually receives the last of major rains in October each year, which provides water for standing crops. However, this year, there has been meager rain since the first week of August hitting paddy crop hard.
A local farmer said, “Due to negligence by authorities, there is a water shortage. The water resources department did not repair irrigation sources in the district in time. Now, cracks have appeared in our dry paddy fields affecting standing crops”.
“We need government support, otherwise we have no way out of this. We have invested our money in farming and our harvest for this year has been destroyed due to lack of water,” rued another farmer.
A local man alleged that the canal work for irrigation has not been completed yet. “it is in the same stage as last year”, he added.
Amid growing resentment, Paralakhemundi MLA K Narayana Rao has demanded Odisha government to declare Gajapati district as drought-hit.
Meanwhile, Gajapati district administration has taken note of the issue. District Collector Smruti Ranjan Pradhan said that the administration is taking steps to deal with the situation. The water resources and energy departments have been alerted, he informed.
PNN